Final answer:
Fine motor skills involve the use of small muscle groups for precise tasks, while gross motor skills involve larger muscle groups for more significant movements. The development of fine motor skills is supported by the abilities gained through gross motor skills, illustrating the body's complex motor capabilities. The cerebellum and motor cortex areas are crucial for coordinating these activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fact that fine motor skills are aided by gross motor skill capabilities underscores the interconnectedness of different kinds of movements and how the body's muscle groups must often work together to achieve precise actions. Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles, typically in the fingers, toes, and eyes, essential for tasks such as writing with a pencil or grasping a toy.
In contrast, gross motor skills use large muscle groups to perform larger movements like balancing, running, and jumping. Both types of motor skills can be influenced by our nature, including our genes and biology, and are also affected by learning and development over time, such as the procedural learning associated with riding a bike or throwing a football, where the cerebellum plays an essential role.
Using scissors to cut out paper shapes is an example of fine motor skills, as it requires precise finger movements and coordination. Moreover, the motor cortex and its adjacent areas, like the premotor cortex and the supplemental motor area, play vital roles in planning, coordinating, and executing these movements. The integration of sensory and motor information, required for undertaking tasks that involve both fine and gross motor skills, is processed by integrative areas of the brain, like the posterior parietal cortex, which coordinates visual and motor functions.